Updated Covid19 Guidance
January 30, 2021
It Should be noted that AACA serves students K-12 who qualify for Special Education and all have current IEP documents on file. Many of our highly impacted students are unable to mask. We need to pay special attention to the guidance as most of our student close contacts and cases happen in the ABSENCE of a mask so many criteria in the updated guidance as it relates to shortened quarantine periods and modified quarantine are dependent on students being fully masked. AACA may be MANDATED to close an entire classroom as per this updated guidance.
• Students and staff with COVID-19 can end isolation after Day* 5 ONLY if all of the following criteria are met:
1. A COVID-19 viral test** collected on Day 5 or later is negative, and
2. No fever for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicine, and
3. Other symptoms are improving --or-- Isolation can end after Day 10 if both these criteria are met:
1. No fever for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicine, and
2. Other symptoms are not present or are improving.
*For symptomatic students and staff, Day 0 is the first day of symptoms; Day 1 is the first full day after symptoms develop. For asymptomatic students and staff, Day 0 is the day the first positive test was collected; Day 1 is the first full day after the positive test was collected. **The test must be an FDA authorized viral test (e.g., PCR or Antigen test, including at-home tests).
An antigen test is preferred for testing out of isolation. NOTE: For staff, per Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS), testing that is required for employees must be provided by the employer free of charge and during work hours; these tests may not be self-administered or self-read unless they are observed by the employer or an authorized telehealth proctor.
• Regardless of when isolation ends, students and staff with COVID-19 must wear a highly protective mask when around others, both indoors and outdoors (except when eating or drinking), for 10 days. The mask should be a well-fitting medical mask or respirator or a well-fitting non-cloth* mask of multiple layers of non-woven material with a nose-wire.
*Cloth masks meeting ASTM standards for high filtration efficiency (ASTM F3502-level 2) are permitted. See ph.lacounty.gov/masks for more information.
A case is considered to be infectious from 2 days before their symptoms first appeared until their isolation ends, as described in the Home Isolation Instructions for COVID-19 (ph.lacounty.gov/covid isolation). A person with a positive COVID-19 test but no symptoms is considered infectious from 2 days before their test was taken until their isolation ends.
• Close Contact: An individual is considered to have been exposed to a case during the infectious period if at least one of the following criteria are met:
(1) being within 6 feet of the infected person for 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period or (2) having had unprotected contact with the infected person’s body fluids and/or secretions of a person with confirmed COVID-19 (e.g., being coughed or sneezed on, sharing utensils or saliva, or providing care without using appropriate protective equipment)
(2) A group is considered to have been exposed to a case during the infectious period if they shared the same indoor airspace at school with the infected person for 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period.
Action for close contacts who are required to quarantine… The following close contacts are required to quarantine:
▪ Students and staff** who are not fully vaccinated
*Asymptomatic students and staff close contacts who were previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 within the last 90 days are not required to quarantine and exempt from testing, regardless of vaccination status.
**Asymptomatic staff close contacts who are fully vaccinated and not boosted (if eligible) can remain at the worksite on the condition that if they do not have symptoms and meet testing and masking requirements.
Close contacts who are required to quarantine must self-quarantine (stay in their home or another residence, separate from others) and monitor for symptoms as outlined in Quarantine and Other Instructions for Close Contacts. As long s of COVID-19 symptoms are not present, they may end quarantine either:
o After 10 full days have passed from their last known contact to the infectious case (as defined above). Activities may resume starting on Day 11 provided they are asymptomatic; OR
o After 5 full days have passed from their last known contact to the infectious case if they have a negative viral test result from a specimen collected on Day 5 from the date of last exposure to the case. Activities may resume starting on Day 6. The test must be an FDA-authorized viral COVID-19 test (e.g., NAAT or Antigen test, including at-home tests). If the test is positive, follow Home Isolation Instructions for COVID-19 (ph.lacounty.gov/covidisolation).
NOTE: For staff, per Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS), testing that is required for employees must be provided by the employer free of charge and during work hours; these tests may not be self-administered or self-read unless they are observed by the employer or an authorized telehealth proctor.
o Regardless of when quarantine ends, Close contacts must continue to monitor their health and wear a highly protective mask when around others for 10 days after the last date of exposure, both indoors and outdoors, except when eating or drinking. The mask should be a well-fitting medical mask or respirator or a well-fitting non-cloth* mask of multiple layers of non-woven material with a nose-wire. *Cloth masks meeting ASTM standards for high filtration efficiency (ASTM F3502-level 2) are permitted.
If the test is positive, follow Home Isolation Instructions for COVID-19 (ph.lacounty.gov/covid isolation).
Modified quarantine option for students who are not fully vaccinated:
Schools have the option of permitting student close contacts who are not fully vaccinated and had a mask-on-mask exposure at school to continue to take part in all school activities, including sports and extracurricular activities, if the specific criteria below are met.
If the following criteria cannot be met, then the exposed student must remain in home quarantine as outlined above.
(1) The exposure was to a person with a COVID-19 diagnosis in any school setting where students are supervised by school staff (indoors, outdoors, or on school buses).
(2) The exposed student remains asymptomatic.
(3) The exposed student AND the person with a COVID-19 diagnosis MUST have each worn a mask consistently and correctly during the entire exposure period. This includes any outdoor exposures. Prior to applying modified quarantine, verification is required of mask-to-mask exposure between the person with a COVID-19 diagnosis and the exposed student.School Administrators must keep records of this verification and provide to Public Health upon request.
(4) In school outbreak sites, students with an outbreak exposure who are not fully vaccinated may, at the direction of the Department of Public Health, be required to fully quarantine at home. They may be released after Day 5, if they have a negative viral test result from a specimen collected on Day 5 from the date of last exposure to a confirmed COVID-19 case in the outbreak, provided they remain without symptoms. Note: in outbreak sites, the quarantine period may be extended by Public Health for additional days to help control transmission risk.
(5) Students under modified quarantine are still subject to the Health Officer Quarantine Order and must stay at home for the duration of quarantine, except for in-person instruction.
(6) Students under modified quarantine are required to wear a mask indoors and outdoors and on school buses, while at school. The exception is for eating and drinking, where they must be at least 6 feet away from other students and preferably outdoors.
(7) Students under modified quarantine must be tested at least once weekly, preferably on or around Day 5. Whenever possible, these students should be tested twice weekly using an FDA-authorized viral COVID-19 test (e.g., PCR or Antigen) in a healthcare setting or certified testing site or an FDA-authorized Over-the-Counter test. When possible, the first test specimen should be collected immediately after notification of exposure and the second test specimen be collected on or after Day 5 from the date of last exposure.
Students may be released from quarantine after Day 5 from the date of last exposure if a test specimen is collected on Day 5, the test is negative, and the student remains without symptoms. Even if released from quarantine after Day 5, exposed students must continue to monitor their health and mask at all times (indoors, outdoors, and on school buses) for 10 days from the date of last exposure. If symptoms develop, the student should test using an FDAauthorized viral COVID-19 test and stay home.
Action for identified close contacts who are not required to quarantine…. The following close contacts are not required to quarantine provided they remain asymptomatic:
▪ Students and staff** who are fully vaccinated *Asymptomatic students and staff close contacts who were previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 within the last 90 days are not required to quarantine and exempt from testing, regardless of vaccination status. **Asymptomatic staff close contacts who are fully vaccinated and not boosted (if eligible) can remain at the worksite on the condition that if they do not have COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH ORDER OF THE HEALTH OFFICER COVID-19 Exposure Management Plan in TK-12 Schools Revised 1/30/2022 Page 6 of 12 symptoms and meet testing and masking requirements.
o These students and staff may remain in school provided they monitor for symptoms and wear a highly protective mask when around others for 10 days after the last date of exposure, both indoors and outdoors, except when eating or drinking. The mask should be a well-fitting medical mask or respirator or a well-fitting non-cloth* mask of multiple layers of non-woven material with a nose-wire. *Cloth masks meeting ASTM standards for high filtration efficiency (ASTM F3502-level 2) are permitted. See ph.lacounty.gov/masks for more information. If symptoms develop, test using an FDA authorized viral COVID-19 test and stay home.
If the test is positive, follow Home Isolation Instructions for COVID-19 (ph.lacounty.gov/covidisolation). o If testing resources are available, this group can be tested with an FDA-authorized viral COVID-19 test (e.g., PCR or Antigen test, including at-home tests) at least once during the 10-day period after the last date of exposure.
Note: exposed staff who are fully vaccinated and not boosted (if eligible) are required to test between Days 3 and 5 of their last exposure to remain in school. Per Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS), testing that is required for employees must be provided by the employer free of charge and during work hours; these tests may not be self-administered or self-read.
Action for identified close contacts who are not required to quarantine
The following close contacts are not required to quarantine provided they remain asymptomatic:
▪ Students and staff** who are fully vaccinated
*Asymptomatic students and staff close contacts who were previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 within the last 90 days are not required to quarantine and exempt from testing, regardless of vaccination status.
**Asymptomatic staff close contacts who are fully vaccinated and not boosted (if eligible) can remain at the worksite on the condition that if they do not have COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH ORDER OF THE HEALTH OFFICER COVID-19 Exposure Management Plan in TK-12 Schools Revised 1/30/2022 Page 6 of 12 symptoms and meet testing and masking requirements.
Staff and students who had a positive COVID-19 test in the past 90 days are exempt from testing as results may remain persistently positive and not be indicative of a new active infection.
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